Easts Indies 94/10, D Nicholls 2-10, W Herbert 2-13
Karori Wildcats 95/3 (9.2), H Cameron 28* (20), T Westaway 21 (10)
Author: D Croft
After two disappointing displays, the Wildcats were looking to bounce back with a big performance against the East Indies at a steamy hot Fortress Karori #5.
Looking to bolster the ranks after some late withdrawals, Nando’s SOS was answered by ex-Wildcat Evan Davies who has been plying his trade in the county scene in England. Even with such firepower in the squad, there were clearly some nerves early on with Nando doing his best to introduce a form of quasi-democracy into the toss by asking anyone who strayed near him what he should do. Thankfully, the vote rigging was not required as Nando lost the toss and the ‘Cats were asked to field.
Tom B and Nando opened up with some tight bowling and Tom eventually broke through in the fourth over (following Crofty dropping a sitter off Nando). This brought in the appropriately named “Shiz”, the East Indies’ number 3, whose afro would not have been out of place strutting down the streets of Kingston or Barbados. However, his batting lacked any Caribbean flair as he tried to cross bat everything that come down at him and eventually fell to the patented Hairy Nipples inswinger. With the door half ajar, the ‘Cats bowlers put the foot down and raced through the rest of the batting with Tom B, Will, Crofty and Dan Nicholls picking up two-fers and Big V and ring in Steve chipping with a wicket each. The quality banter, sharp fielding and bowling effort meant a small chase of 95 was required.
95 looked a long way off once both Alex and Will were back in the shed with only 17 on the board and the East Indies’ left armer ripping down almost unplayable inswingers (mixed in with a bunch of legside trash of course, it is T20 after all). Teddy Westaway, obviously channelling the Brian Lara within him, showed a new dimension to his game by slapping some balls back over the bowlers’ heads to race to a quickfire 21 off 10 before another inswinger sent him packing. This brought Crofty and Hamo together who saw off the last over from the left arm quick and then plundered the rest of the bowling with relative ease to reach the total with only 9.5 overs gone.
Big shouts out to Evan and Steve for playing and to Hamo’s missus who brought some iceblocks to cool the ‘Cats down.
